Martial Arts Biography - Dionisio Canete

GRANDMASTER DIONISIO CANETE

Dionisio
belongs to the second generation of the famous Martial Art advocates,
the Cañete brothers of Cebu City, Philippines. He is the youngest
son of GM Eulogio (Ylong) Cañete, the principal organizer of Doce
Pares, who headed the organization since its founding in 1932 until
his death in June 1988.

Dionisio began his lessons in the Filipino Art
in 1946 at the age of eight from his father and brother Iluminado,
the eldest of the five children (4 sons and a daughter) of Eulogio
and Irenea Aventurado.

He studied under GM Felimon "Momoy" Cañete
and later with GM Ciriaco "Cacoy" Cañete, both brother
of his father. He also trained with GM Vicenter Carin and Maximo
Cañete.

In 1950, during the Golden age of Boxing in Cebu,
he was attracted to the sport and for five years regularly sparred
and trained with several good amateur and professional boxers at
that time.

In 1957, together with his brothers, Diony was
introduced to Kodokan Judo.

In 1960, immediately upon his election as one
of the officers of Doce Pares, rules on the acceptance of students
and membership were liberalized. They started to promote and develop
Arnis to a wholesome spectator's sporting event

In 1975, He initiated the formation of the Cebu
Eskrima (Arnis) Association. All major Arnis clubs in Cebu banded
together for the first time. In succeeding to organize and band
together all the top Arnisadors, Diony, in effect, sort of "Civilized" the
fighting-oriented Masters and curbed them to learn to co-exist
for the sake of the Filipino Art.

Events he helped organize/Events
he participated:

March 6-7,1976
First National Arnis Festival
University of San Carlos Gym
Cebu City, Philippines
by National Arnis Association of the Philippines
NARAPHIL

March 24, 1979
First National Arnis Open Championship
Cebu Coliseum
Cebu City, Philippines

August 19, 1979
First National Invitational Tournament
Philippine National College Gymnasium
Manila, Philippines

October 15, 1988
First National USA Eskrima Kali Arnis Champioships
San Jose, California

First Eastern USA Arnis Championships
Jersey City, NJ

Note:
The two tournaments were made possible through the
all-out assistance & initiative of Arnulfo Cuesta,
Fred Bandalan, Edward Abinsay, and Leo Fernandez

August 11-13, 1989
First World Eskrim Kali Arnis Championships
Cebu City, Philippines
It was during this tournament that the World
Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) was organized.
He was elected Charter President

In
1989 he was selected as Sportsman of the Year by the Sportswriters
Association of Cebu (SAC)

During these tournaments
he prepared the tournament rules and designed the appropriate
protective gear.

In 1969 at the age
of 22, he passed the Bar Examinations and became a fully-fledged
Lawyer.

Diony has pruned
down his active participation in various activities related to
Arnis. His private gym in Cebu, however, remains a popular training
place for students and instructors, especially those coming from
other countries. He sees to it that the visitors are well attended
to and are assured of learning what they want to know abou the
art. He still makes himself always available to render service
to WEKAF and NARAPHIL.